For diagnosis of home electrical problems, ever wish you had a house wiring diagram, or reliable online advice?... I am Larry Dimock, The Circuit Detective, a master electrician in Washington state who concentrated on troubleshooting home electrical problems. I used to offer email and phone advice from here, but now that I've retired, you'll have to rely on this did-it-myself website to fix your problem, as over 11 million have since 2004. They say the site is exceptional.U.S. and Canada only.Disclaimer

"I know enough about breakers, outlets, and circuits, but I need tips on troubleshooting"... Then go to the Nutshell or full Troubleshooting page for step-by-step help to find the cause of your problem.

Not much has changed since the book was published (2007), but if you prefer the entire current site, simply download this .zip file, extract its files (copyrighted) to a new folder on your computer, and then open the "index.htm" file in that folder.

SLEUTH. I had fun being in this 7-minute info-video drama. Maybe you will enjoy it. It will be of special interest if you have an outage that doesn't seem to be from a tripped breaker or GFCI.
More videos by Larry.

Tip of the Week: Is electrical troubleshooting for a home simple? Sometimes Yes. Sometimes No. If you read this site thoroughly, you will realize that more is involved than other sites suggest. And you may wonder if it is more than you want to deal with. But if your careful reading brings you increased understanding, then you are more equipped to deal with the possibilities. - Detective Larry ...More Tips of the Week.

THANK YOUs
"One of the finest resources on the web" -Alan
"You provide information in such an easy to follow form" - Bill
"Yours is the only one where a novice can get real help" -Donna
"The most comprehensive site on practical residential electrical I have found anywhere" -ISP
"Best site I've found on electrical circuits problems" -Gaetanmore

The Scope of This Website: These pages have been designed as a guide for the DIY homeowner who faces home electrical problems, that is, electric malfunction issues in his/her household electrical wiring system. The site is not mainly oriented to helping with design, installation, or with remodel projects. Some books are better at wiring projects than most websites.
The concept is Home Electrical Troubleshooting:
1. "Home" includes any residence: a house, condominium, apartment, or mobile home.
2. "Electrical" means the alternating-current house wiring system, from power company equipment, through circuit breakers or fuses, to plug-in outlets, electrical switches, and some of the appliances and light fixtures operated by this current.
3. "Troubleshooting" here means the process of investigating and fixing home electrical problems; the site is mainly not concerned with upgrading or preventive maintenance.